We catch the first glimpse of the jagged peaks while driving up the windy road to the trailhead. Smothered in the late afternoon sun and a bit of smoke (California is burning again), they resemble a theatrical stage set for a Shakespearean play - majestic, distant, surreal.
We are headed for one of the most popular backpacking destinations in the Wind River Range - the magnificent Titcomb Basin. In the next four days, we hike thirty long miles (48 km) to witness dream-like landscapes with crystal clear alpine lakes and rushing streams, lush pine forests and redolent meadows, and colossal granite peaks, seductive in their majestic stillness. We’ve never seen a landscape so incredible!
The Titcomb Basin is remote and accessible only by foot. It scenery is so mesmerizing, however, that the strenuous efforts put into reaching it will pay off manifold. Prepare for the incredible backpacking trip you’ll hardly forget!
Quick overview
- Trail type: Out-and-back
- Distance: 30 mi (48 km) round trip
- Elevation change: +/- 1230 ft (375 m)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Cost: free
Where is Titcomb Basin?
Titcomb Basin is located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Nestled between dramatic sharp granite peaks - the highest of them being Fremont at 13,751 ft (4191 m) - it offers spectacular views and is a perfect spot for recreational activities like backpacking, climbing, and fishing.
The basin can be accessed from a couple of different trailheads. This post describes the route commencing at Elkhart Park, Pinedale.
Trail Difficulty
Though quite a long trek, it is not difficult - majority of the trail is gradual, and there are few demanding stretches to traverse due to steep inclines and rocky terrain.
The path is clearly marked and easily followed - on any intersections where doubt may arise, a wooden sign will point you in the right direction. Still, consider bringing a digital or physical map to anticipate steep inclines and water crossings, and to keep an eye on mileage.
Interesting Fact: In September 2020, a massive wind storm with 80+ mi/hr (130 km/hr) wind gusts knocked down hundreds of trees in the area. At the time of our trip (late August 2021), the trail was clear with no major obstructions owing to immense efforts of rangers and volunteers.
Water Sources
There is no easy access to water in the first 4.5 miles (7 km), so it is wise to bring a sufficient amount to tackle that distance.
Past the Photographers Point, there is plenty of opportunities to refill from numerous creeks, ponds, and lakes along the trail. Make sure to treat water with a filtration system as Giardia contamination is reportedly an issue.
Bear awareness
The Winds is a bear country. Black and grizzly bears are abound, and when stepping foot on their territory, one must be ready for an encounter.
According to forest rangers, the high use of the trail keeps the shy creatures away, and the likelihood of coming across one is low. However, being prepared and knowing how to behave during a bear encounter can literally be life-saving!
It is also a great idea to learn how to distinguish between grizzly and black bears as their behavior and motives when approaching people are allegedly quite different.
Carry a bear spray with you and know exactly how to use it.
Make certain to store your food and toiletries properly as bears have an incredible sense of smell (estimated 2000 to 3000 times better than human’s!) Hard sided bear canister is your best bet as, on some parts of the trail, finding a tree to tie a bear bag might be challenging.
Permits
As the Wind River Range is withing a Wilderness Area and regulated by USDA, no permits are required for overnight stay unless you are going as part of the organized group or recreational livestock users. More information regarding those permits can be found here.
If you would like to fish, you must possess a valid Wyoming fishing license.
Camping
Camping along the trail and up at the basin can be tricky. Camping guidelines require campers to maintain a minimum of 200 ft (60 m) away from lakes and trails and 100 ft (30 m) away from creeks and streams. Yet due to the terrain, it is sometimes difficult to find a spot that follows the guidelines
Many established sites around lakes are illegal, and backpackers are frequently fined and asked to move by the forest rangers who routinely hike the trails to ensure adherence to the rules.
In the basin, camping will prove even more difficult - the basin floor is bare granite, and you are surrounded by myriad interconnected little ponds and water streams. Moreover, the winds in the basin are ferocious and night temperatures are low.
Many backpackers set up their camp at Island Lake and do day-hikes to Titcomb Basin and Indian Pass. It is a great option, just bear in mind that you might not have as much privacy as you long for.
We set up our camp at the unnamed lake just after Island Lake, and we were the only tent there.
Best time to hike and weather
The best time to backpack the basin is considered August through September. Snow typically remains on the trail until mid-July. Mosquitos, horse-flies, and deer-flies can be a nuisance following the snow melt, but dwindle over time and should be of no concern by mid- to late August.
The weather at the Winds is notoriously fickle so be prepared with layers to anticipate swiftly changing conditions as it may snow, rain, and shine on the same day. The rangers warn backpackers that a winter storm may sweep through the Winds pretty much at any time (as it did a week before we went out there in August).
Moreover, as the name of the range implies, wind is an incessant thing and gets more rapacious as you gain altitude. So make sure to dress accordingly.
Camping near trailhead
There is first come first serve camping available at the trailhead - at Trails End Campground - if you wish to stay overnight prior or after the hike. There are only 8 spots at campers’ disposal, and those typically get filled up by mid to late afternoon. A fee of $12 (at the time of this article) should be left in an envelope in the collection box at the entrance. (Bring cash!)
Each camping site has a designated parking space, a table, and a bear vault. There are also two vault toilets on premises, but no trash bins at hand, so make sure to pack out your trash.
Water is also not available at campground. However, Faler Creek flows nearby - no more than a few hundred feet down Sacred Rim Trail.
Sacred Rim Trail - A Bonus hike you shouldn’t miss
A little hidden gem few hikers know about is the overlook at the end of the Sacred Rim trail, a short hike of a little more than a mile. The overlook presents an astonishing panorama of the Long and Upper Long Lakes with all the major peaks surrounding Titcomb Basin hovering over in the distance. Simply incredible!
Sacred Rim trail is an inconspicuous left turn 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from the trailhead down the Pole Creek trail. It crosses Faler Creek and climbs up gradually with no major obstacles apart from a few fallen trees you can easily circumvent. The scenery at top will over-compensate you for the little effort invested.
In our humble opinion, the views at the Sacred Rim Peak are more spectacular than at the famous Photographers Point (and just a stone’s throw from the trailhead!) But that’s a matter of opinion!
Trail description
The minimum recommended time spent on this trip is three nights. This amount of time will allow you to enjoy the trail and take in the scenery without rushing.
Ideally, you would hike all the way up to the Island Lake on your first day, but for many the distance of 11.5 mi (18.5km) with full backpacks could be strenuous. A more realistic alternative is the hike to Hobbs or Seneca Lake on the first day, then to Island Lake the second day where you will set up a camp and day hike from there, and head back on the third or fourth day after exploring the Titcomb Basin.
Your journey will commence in Elkhart Park from the Pole Creek trailhead where you should have no trouble finding a parking spot as the lot is huge.
The trail slopes gently through the lush pine forest. Fallen trees are on the either side of the trail - a reminder of the destruction a hurricane wind can bring upon land. The smell of wood here is invigorating, the path is easy to trod, and the beautiful forest provides delightful serenity one leaves a city for.
Little of the mountains is seen here except for a couple of spots where the pine trees spread apart offering a prelude to the magnificent peaks that patiently await you at the basin. You hike for 4.5 mi (7.2 km) to the Photographers Point, at which the scenery transforms into a breathtaking panorama of the deep canyon below and the legion of jagged peaks jutting into the sky.
A mile past the Photographers Point, you leave the Pole Creek Trail which now turns south, and continue north on Seneca Lake Trail.
Beyond Barbara Lake, be prepared to traverse some steep terrain. The path plunges and rises back up repeatedly, leveling out at the lakes and meadows.
At Little Seneca Lake, Seneca Lake Trail morphs into Indian Basin Trail, which is also, for a brief second, part of the Continental Divide Trail. You are now just about a mile away from the Island Lake.
The Island Lake is where the scenery starts to become truly staggering. Vibrant beautiful blue waters of the lake and the dark evergreens are juxtaposed against the pale grey batholithic giants towering behind.
As you continue past the Island Lake into the basin, the landscape takes your breath away with its tranquil grandiosity. The trail meanders along what seems to be myriads little pools interconnected with each other. The water is crystal clear and piercing cold.
It culminates here - the staggering granite peaks soar around you, and the expanse of the basin makes you feel minuscule. The lack of any sound - beside the ever present wind - gives an overwhelming sense of serenity and unity with this magnificent place. Enjoy this truly incredible moment!
